Bourke Street victims' families tell court Melbourne 'an unsafe city'

Victims, families and witnesses of the Bourke Street rampage say they no longer believe Melbourne is a safe place to live or visit.

The comments were made as victims and witnesses of the Bourke Street rampage appeared in the Supreme Court on Tuesday to describe the horrifying effects Gargasoulas’ actions on January 20, 2017 have had on their lives.

Masayuki and Minako Kanno, parents of Japanese student Yosuke Kanno, 25, who was Gargasoulas' first victim in the Bourke Street attack, said they rue sending their son to Melbourne, which they believe is "an unsafe city".

“Both my wife and I keep regretting with hindsight that we agreed and allowed our son to to come to Melbourne to study here.”

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“Yosuke chose Melbourne, a city known as the world’s most liveable and safest city. However, his hopes were futile. Through this tragedy, the people close to our family – our relatives colleagues and friends – have come to perceive Melbourne as an unsafe city.”

Tania White, who narrowly escaped being struck along with her 12-year-old daughter, said in a written statement that she couldn’t forget the “mayhem”.

Bourke Street victim Yosuke Kanno.

“I don’t feel safe in the city anymore," she said. "The first time I had to go to the city I had the biggest panic attack, I was crying. I was terrified.”

“The second time I went a few months ago, we weren’t in the city but just close. It felt wrong and we felt so angry, we just wanted to get out of there. I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“Minutes later I heard on the radio that another incident had happened in Bourke Street [the terror attack]. I will do anything now to avoid going to the city.”

The Supreme Court is expected to hear more than 50 victim impact statements over three days ahead of Gargasoulas’ sentencing.

Written statements were read out by or on behalf of the family of Mr Kanno, Jess Mudie, 22 and Bhavita Patel, 33, who were killed in Bourke Street or died later in hospital.

Jess MudieCredit:Instagram

All spoke of living with constant heartache, loss and anger, and grappling with a senseless tragedy leading them to withdraw from their previous lives.

Throughout the proceeding, Gargasoulas remained unmoved in the dock. He sat motionless, even when addressed directly.

Robyn Davis, Jess Mudie’s mother, had her statement read out by the prosecutor but addressed her daughter’s murderer directly.

“I’m not going to detail about all the pain that you have caused myself and my family. No wedding, children, holidays or any dreams will come to fruition for Jess. She was 22 and she had her whole adult life before her, which you so thoughtlessly took away from her and her family.

“You will never be forgiven, and I hope the justice system prevails. I will always love and miss you my beautiful girl Jessica.”

Scott Van Bronswijk, who was seriously injured in the attack, spoke in his statement of the pain and fear of seeing his colleagues strewn across the footpath, including Jess Mudie who was killed, seven others who were injured and two who narrowly escaped.

Justice Mark Weinberg said to those who had prepared victim impact statements he could "only admire your courage and fortitude".

The proceedings will continue on Wednesday.

Victims' families in their own words

Jessica Mudie, 22. Visiting from NSW, she died at the scene from head injuries.

“The day after dreams of Jess are always the worst. Jess loved birthdays, Christmases and any family event, and as each of these come there is always that hole where Jess is missing and that taints the happiness. Even though I enjoy them, it is never pure happiness because she is not there. I try to find any chance I can get to talk about Jess” – twin sister, Emily Mudie.

“Never in my wildest nightmares did I ever think I would have to bury one of my precious children, let alone write a victim impact statement for one of them. The 20th of January 2017 is a day I will never forget and I relive it every single day since” -- mother, Robyn Davis

Bhavita Patel, 33. The financial consultant died 10 days later in hospital.

Bhavita PatelCredit:Facebook

“Two years have passed and there are still days that I wake up and feel like it is the day after. Every single piece of my future included her. I had to introduce her to the girl I’m going to marry while she was in a coma. I think about the kids I’ll have that will never know her. I try and write down stories and organise photos that I will show them but the pain that she will never be able to hold them and tell them herself is intensely crushing.” – brother Mitesh Patel

“Why was she taken away from us? We have no answers to these and all the other questions. We are adrift on a path to no destination, ours is now an aimless existence. Everyday is sadness, hurt, pain, grief -- and also anger and hate, which were strangers to me before.” – father, Ramesh Patel

Yosuke Kanno, 25. The Japanese student died at the scene.

“With no apology from the accused, both my wife and I continue to leave in deep sorrow. We cannot hold back our anger towards the accused” – parents, Masayuki and Minako Kanno.

“My younger brother and I were to support each other and share experiences in our lives regardless of whatever we would go through. My anger and hatred towards this unreasonable society will cause me to think of, or to be reminded of, the worst things or possible outcomes for the rest of my life. I will probably continue suffering from this until I die” -- brother, Junpei Kanno